CE AT 13+ | INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS

CE AT 13+
Our trusted Common Entrance (CE) assessment at 13+ has been the transition assessment of choice for Britain’s top independent schools since 1903 and covers a wide set of subjects, providing a clear academic focus as a curriculum, with transition assessment available in over eight different subject areas for pupils in Years 7 and 8.
REGISTERING PUPILS FOR CE AT 13+ ASSESSMENTS
Pupils are usually entered for the examinations by their prep school. Registration for CE at 13+ has changed – find out more about the new registration process.
Our Common Entrance (CE) at 13+ assessments contain three compulsory papers: English, mathematics and science. In addition, it is hoped that candidates will attempt papers in a wide range of subjects chosen from French, geography, German, Classical Greek, history, Latin, TPR and Spanish. Usually, senior schools expect the majority of candidates to offer geography, history, TPR and a language.
The CE examination is flexible enough to allow candidates from schools which do not prepare pupils for the traditional range of CE subjects to offer a reduced number of papers. Additionally, core subjects – most modern languages, Latin and Classical Greek – are offered at more than one level. Candidates are not expected to tackle papers beyond their ability.
If there is any doubt about the choice of level, it is emphasised that prep schools should contact senior schools. Senior schools may, if they wish, state which level they prefer in English, mathematics, and science. In some circumstances, it could be a matter of negotiation between the relevant prep and senior schools.
CE Gold Schools 2024-25
NEW CE at 13+ specifications - for first examination from Autumn 2022
In September 2021, we launched new CE specifications to allow teachers to prepare for the updated exams from Autumn 2022. The new specifications have now been rebranded in line with all other company products, but the content remains largely unchanged. However, in case of minor amendments, we recommend using the rebranded versions below. The specimen papers below are written to the new specifications.
CE at 13+ Specifications
INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS
Documentation
CE and CASE Support Portal
Visit our new Support Portal to access a range of helpful articles and FAQs about CE at 13+. You can also submit an enquiry to our customer service team by submitting a support ticket.
ORDER CE AND CASE PAST PAPERS
Schools can now order past papers for Common Entrance (CE) and Common Academic Scholarship (CASE) exams through our new online shop. To access school-only products including individual print-on-demand papers and digital bundles of PDF papers, schools will need a verified ISEB School account for the online shop. Your school may already have an account - if you are unsure, please contact us by completing the ticket form on our Shop Support Portal to find out. See further information below.
ORDERING CE AND CASE PAST PAPERS
Past CE and CASE exam papers are available to buy through the ISEB Online Shop. Schools can buy printed and digital past papers from the past five years, and can also place Advance Orders for brand-new past papers through the shop. Please note that you must be logged in to your school’s ISEB School Account to see school-only past paper products.
In September 2021, we launched new CE and CASE specifications. All past papers from Autumn 2022 follow this updated specification, and all papers from previous sessions follow the CE and CASE syllabus used until June 2022. Please be assured that all of our papers are valid revision and practice materials, and revising with past papers remains the best way to prepare for tests.
Past papers will become available to schools immediately after each live exam session, and can be pre-ordered during each Advance Order period. Parents and tutors are not able to order papers until one year after the exams have taken place, so schools can purchase the most recent papers for practice purposes knowing that pupils will not have seen them.
Advance Orders
Schools can place orders for practice papers in advance of the next set of exams. This will ensure that they receive the papers immediately after the live exams have taken place. Please see our Annual Schedule for ISEB Advance Orders for more information on when and how you can place your pre-orders.
ISEB School accounts
The ISEB School Account is an account that provides access to school-only content and products on the ISEB website and online shop to schools that work with CE or CASE examinations, or the iPQ.
It allows schools to order past papers for CE and CASE, and to register candidates for examinations and qualifications such as the iPQ. Find out more about the ISEB School Account.
If you are unsure as to whether or not your school has an account for the online shop set up already, please contact us via the Shop Support Portal with full details of your school and ISEB number (if you have one).
Online Shop Portal
Knowledge Base: shop.support.iseb.co.uk
Submit an enquiry
If your school does not yet have an ISEB School account, you can request one here: www.iseb.co.uk/register.
Online shop support and guidance
We recommend that you read the guidance information and FAQs on the Support and Guidance for Schools page before you place your first order.
FAQs
- When we register candidates, some have not made decisions about their first choice schools. What should we do?
- Some of our pupils are going on to schools which do not require CE, but we still want them to sit the examinations. Can we register candidates and mark the papers internally?
- Can we change candidates' details after the closing date?
- We have SEND candidates who need extra time. How do we ensure that they receive this?
- How do we decide which levels candidates should sit when papers are set at more than one level?
- What guidance does ISEB give about setting grade boundaries between different levels?
- What feedback should we expect to receive from senior schools about how candidates have performed in the examinations?
- What guidance does ISEB give regarding the return of individual examination scripts?
- We want to give feedback to ISEB on the examinations. What is the best way of doing this?
FEEDBACK
Schools are invited to give feedback on the examination papers by completing ISEB’s online surveys, which are sent out after the examination session. It is hoped that as many schools as possible will complete the surveys for each subject. ISEB welcomes feedback from schools at any time of the year, please contact us via our CE & CASE Support Portal.
Common Entrance (CE) and Common Academic Scholarship (CASE) Support Portal
Knowledge Base: commonentrance.support.iseb.co.uk
Submit an enquiry